Child Safety Seat Assemblies

ABSTRACT

A support base for a child safety seat includes a shell body affixed with an anchor structure, an arm extending transversally relative to the shell body and having a rod pivotally disposed through a tube portion, the tube portion having an extension connected with a side segment of the anchor structure, two latch assemblies respectively connected with a left and a right end of the rod for fixedly attaching the shell body with an anchorage fixture of a vehicle, and a cushion structure for cushioning a displacement of the shell body and the anchor structure relative to the arm and the latch assemblies when car collision occurs. The cushion structure is arranged adjacent to a joint region where the side segment and the extension are connected with each other, or in the base between the tube portion and an inner sidewall of the shell body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/678,688 filed on Nov. 16, 2012, which claims priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/560,808 filed on Nov. 17,2011, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present inventions relate to child safety seat assemblies.

2. Description of the Related Art

A child safety seat is usually required to seat a young child in avehicle for protecting the child during crash collision. The childsafety seat can be attached on the vehicle passenger's seat with theseatbelt of the vehicle. However, the use of the seatbelt for fasteningthe child safety seat may be inconvenient, and result in erroneousinstallation that fails to protect the child during collision.

Another approach proposes to incorporate a standardized latch system(i.e., ISOFIX standard) in the child safety seat through which the seatcan be securely attached with an anchorage fixture provided in thevehicle. Because the ISOFIX latch system provides a tight hold of thechild safety seat, the energy resulting from a crash collision may besubstantially transmitted to the child and cause injury.

Therefore, there is a need for a child safety seat that can address atleast the aforementioned issues.

SUMMARY

The present application describes child safety seat assemblies thatinclude a support base, and a child safety seat arranged on the supportbase. In one embodiment, the support base includes a shell body, an armextending transversally relative to the shell body, two latch assembliesand a cushion structure. The shell body has an inner sidewall, and aninterior affixed with an anchor structure, the anchor structureincluding a side segment. The arm has a tube portion, and a rod arrangedthrough the tube portion, the tube portion including an extensionconnected with the side segment of the anchor structure. The two latchassemblies are respectively connected with a left and a right end of therod, the latch assemblies being operable to fixedly attach the shellbody with an anchorage fixture of a vehicle, and the rod being rotatablerelative to the tube portion to turn the two latch assemblies to eitherof a storage state and a deployed state. The cushion structure isarranged adjacent to a joint region where the side segment and theextension of the tube portion are connected with each other, or in thesupport base at a position between the tube portion and the innersidewall of the shell body, the cushion structure being operable tocushion a displacement of the shell body and the anchor structurerelative to the arm and the latch assemblies when a car collisionoccurs.

In other embodiments, the support base for a child safety seat includesa shell body having an interior affixed with an anchor structure, an armextending transversally relative to the shell body, two latch assembliesoperable to fixedly attach the shell body with an anchorage fixture of avehicle, and a cushion structure. The arm has a rod pivotally supportedthrough a tube portion, the tube portion including an extensionconnected with a side segment of the anchor structure. The two latchassemblies are respectively connected with a left and a right end of therod, the rod being rotatable with the two latch assemblies relative tothe tube portion. The cushion structure interacts with the arm tocushion a displacement of the shell body and the anchor structurerelative to the arm and the latch assemblies when a car collisionoccurs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a support basefor a child safety seat;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a construction of the supportbase shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating one cushion structure shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an operation of the cushionstructure provided in the support base of FIG. 1 when installed in avehicle;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a second embodiment of a supportbase for a child safety seat;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating a cushion structure provided inthe support base shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure shown in FIG. 6 when the support base is installed ina vehicle;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a third embodiment of a supportbase for a child safety seat;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating a cushion structure provided inthe support base shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure shown in FIG. 9 when the support base is installed ina vehicle;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment of asupport base for a child safety seat;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating a latch assembly detached fromthe support base shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the support base shown inFIG. 11 with the latch assemblies in a deployed state;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating an interior of the shell bodyof the base shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view illustrating the assembly of a tubularanchor with an arm in the shell body shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the tubularanchor shown in FIG. 15 assembled with the arm;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure shown in FIG. 15 when the support base is installed ina vehicle;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view illustrating another cushion structure thatcan be used in the support base shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 19 is a schematic view illustrating the cushion structure of FIG.18 disposed adjacent to a joint region of a tubular anchor with an armin the support base;

FIG. 20 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure shown in FIG. 19 when the support base is installed ina vehicle;

FIG. 21 is a schematic view illustrating another cushion structure thatcan be used in the support base shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 22 is a schematic view illustrating a cushion structure shown inFIG. 21 disposed adjacent to a joint region of a tubular anchor with anarm in the support base;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure shown in FIG. 22 when the support base is installed ina vehicle;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view illustrating another variant cushionstructure that can be used in the support base shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 25 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the assembly of thecushion structure shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a cushioning pad of the cushionstructure shown in FIG. 25; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure shown in FIG. 25 when the support base is installed ina vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present application describes child safety seat assemblies thatinclude a support base, and a child safety seat arranged on the supportbase. In one embodiment, the support base includes a shell body, a latchassembly operable to fixedly attach the shell body with an anchoragefixture of a vehicle, and a cushion structure coupled with the shellbody, wherein the cushion structure is operable to allow a cushioneddisplacement of the shell body relative to the latch assembly when thechild safety seat is subject to collision.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a support base100 for a child safety seat, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustratinga construction of the base 100. The support base 100 can include a shellbody 102, and two adjustable arms 104 having distal ends respectivelyprovided with latch assemblies 106 and cushion structures 108. The shellbody 102 can be formed from the assembly of upper and lower housingparts 102A and 102B, and have a rear 102R and a front 102F. The upperhousing part 102A can have an upper outward surface having aconstruction adapted to detachably support a child safety seat 101.

The adjustable arms 104 can be movably assembled through the shell body102 transversally spaced apart from each other, and can be movable alonga lengthwise axis of the shell body 102 that extends from the rear 102Rto the front 102F. A portion of the arms 104 away from the end where thelatch assembly 106 is mounted can include a plurality of lockingopenings 110 disposed along the lengthwise axis of the shell body 102.The interior of the shell body 102 may also include at least one lockingmember (not shown) movable transversally to engage with and disengagefrom any one of the locking openings 110 to lock the arms 104 in place.Accordingly, the arms 104 can be operable to adjust a length at whichthe latch assemblies 106 extend from the rear 102R of the shell body102. An actuator mechanism 109 may be operable to unlock the arms 104.

The two latch assemblies 106 can be respectively arranged adjacent tothe distal ends of the two arms 104, and can be operable to lock andunlock with respect to an anchorage fixture provided in a vehicle. Eachlatch assembly 106 can include an outer casing 106A that can enclose alocking hook 106B.

For operating the latch assemblies 106, each of the arms 104 can have aninterior in which an extension 120, a sliding part 122 having aprojection 124, and a bracket 126 can be installed. The bracket 126 canbe affixed with the latch assembly 106, in particular with the outercasing 106A of the latch assembly 106. The extension 120 can be affixedwith the outer casing 106A of the latch assembly 106, and protrudeforward from the bracket 126 along the lengthwise axis of the arm 104.The bracket 126 can have a sidewall provided with two holes 130 and 132spaced apart from each other along the lengthwise axis of the arm 104. Aspring 134 can be connected between the sliding part 122 and theextension 120. The projection 124 fixedly joined with the sliding part122 can be disposed through the bracket 126 and through the interior ofthe outer housing 106A. An actuator mechanism 136 may be assembled withthe lower housing part 102B, and can be coupled with the sliding parts122 via transmission cables (not shown). The actuator mechanism 136 canbe operable to switch the locking hooks 106B from a locking state to anunlocking state for permitting detachment of the support base 100 fromthe anchorage fixture of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating one cushion structure 108 shownin FIG. 2. The cushion structures 108 can be disposed symmetricallyadjacent to the two adjustable arms 104, and have a same construction.The cushion structures 108 can be coupled with the shell body 102, andare configured to allow a cushioned displacement of the shell body 102relative to the latch assemblies 106 when collision occurs. Each cushionstructure 108 can include a rear portion 104A of each arm 104 having twoholes 112 and 114 that are separated from each other via a solidcushioning portion 116 having a slit 116A. The cushioning portion 116can be made of the material of the arm 104, and is located adjacent tothe holes 112 and 114. The holes 112 and 114 may be located in a regionof the adjustable arm 104 adjacent to the outer housing 106A of thelatch assembly 106, and may be spaced apart from each other along thelengthwise axis of the arm 104. The slit 116A can be connected betweenthe two holes 112 and 114, and is narrower than the holes 112 and 114. Afastener such as a rivet 118 can be respectively engaged through thehole 112 of the arm 104 and the hole 130 of the bracket 126 to affix thebracket 126 with the arm 104 associated therewith. The rivet 118 passingthrough the hole 112 can be in contact with the cushioning portion 116.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating an operation of the cushionstructure 108 when the support base 100 is installed in a vehicle. Incase the vehicle is subject to a sudden colliding force parallel to thelengthwise axis of the shell body 102 (e.g., when the collision occursat the front of the vehicle), the inertia of the support base 100 maycause the shell body 102 and the arms 104 to displace away from theattachment points of the latch assemblies 106 with the anchorage fixtureof the vehicle. As a result, each rivet 118 affixed with one associatedlatch assembly 106 can be urged to push against the cushioning portion116, and move from the hole 112 through the cushioning portion 116 tothe hole 114. In particular, the shaft portion of the rivet 118 can havea diameter that is slightly larger than the slit 116A, which causesdeformation (e.g., plastic deformation) of the slit 116A for absorbing apart of the collision energy as the rivet 118 moves from the hole 112 tothe hole 114. This cushioned displacement of the shell body 102 and thearms 104 relative to the latch assemblies 106 can dissipate a part ofthe collision energy to reduce the risk of injury to the child.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a second embodiment of a supportbase 200 for a child safety seat. The support base 200 can include ashell body 102, adjustable arms 104 and latch assemblies 106 likepreviously described. One difference lies in the design of the cushionstructures 202 (only one is shown in FIG. 5) that are providedsymmetrically on the two arms 104 adjacent to the latch assemblies 106.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating one cushion structure 202. Thecushion structure 202 can include the rear portion 104A of one arm 104having two spaced-apart holes 212 and 218 that are disposed along thelengthwise axis of the arm 104 and are isolated from each other via acushioning portion 202A. The cushioning portion 202A can be made of thesame material of the arm 104, and is located adjacent to the holes 212and 218. A fastener such as rivet 208 can be respectively engagedthrough the hole 204 of the arm 104 and the hole 130 of the bracket 126(as better shown in FIG. 2) to affix the bracket 126 with the arm 104associated therewith. The rivet 208 passing through the hole 204 can bein contact with the cushioning portion 202A.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure 202 when the support base 200 is installed in avehicle. In case the vehicle is subject to a sudden colliding forceparallel to the lengthwise axis of the shell body 102 (e.g., when thecollision occurs at the front of the vehicle), the inertia of thesupport base 100 may cause the shell body 102 and the arms 104 todisplace away from the attachment points of the latch assemblies 106with the anchorage fixture of the vehicle. As a result, the rivet 208can be urged to push against and break at least partially the cushioningportion 202A of the arm 104 between the holes 212 and 218, and move fromthe hole 212 to the hole 218. The break of the cushioning portion 202Abetween the holes 212 and 218 may create a trench 210, such that aportion of a collision energy can be dissipated. This cushioneddisplacement of the shell body 102 and the arms 104 relative to thelatch assemblies 106 can dissipate a part of the collision energy toreduce the risk of injury to the child.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a third embodiment of a supportbase 300. The support base 300 can include the shell body 102, and twoadjustable arms 304 of a same construction including the latchassemblies 106 and cushion structures 306 (only one arm 304 with onecushion structure 306 is exemplary shown in FIG. 8, the other one beingsimilar in construction). Each of the arms 304 can include two hollowsegments 308 and 310 that can be fixedly connected with each other bypartially inserting into each other. The segment 308 can be affixed withthe outer casing 106A of the latch assembly 106, and can have aninterior through which the extension 120, the sliding part 122 with theprojection 124, and the bracket 126 are respectively installed. Thelocking openings 110 can be distributed lengthwise along the segment310. The segment 310 can have a portion 310A that is assembled throughthe interior of the segment 308. The cushion structure 306 can bearranged adjacent to the portion 310A.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view illustrating the cushion structure 306. Thecushion structure 306 can include a cushioning pad 314 that is affixedin an overlapping region between the segments 310 and 308. The segment310 can include an elongated slot 312 that extends along the lengthwiseaxis of the arm 304 and has opposite first and second ends 312A and312B. A rivet 316 can be fixedly engaged with the segment 308, andassembled through the slot 312 adjacent to the first end 312A. Anabutment 318 can be affixed with the segment 310 adjacent to the secondend 312B of the slot 312. The cushioning pad 314 can be exemplary madeof cast aluminum, but any other deformable materials may also besuitable. Moreover, the cushioning pad 314 can also include a pluralityof openings 320 to increase the ability of the cushioning pad 314 todeform. The cushioning pad 314 can be disposed between the rivet 316 andthe abutment 318, and can at least partially overlap with the slot 312.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure 306 when the support base 300 is installed in avehicle. In case the vehicle is subject to a sudden colliding forceparallel to the lengthwise axis of the shell body 102 (e.g., when thecollision occurs at the front of the vehicle), the inertia of thesupport base 300 and the seat installed thereon may cause the shell body102 and the arms 304 to displace away from the attachment points of thelatch assemblies 106 with the anchorage fixture of the vehicle. Becausethe segment 308 is affixed with one associated latch assembly 106, thesegment 310 locked with the shell body 102 can urge the rivet 316 tomove from the first end 312A toward the second end 312B of the slot 312,which compresses the cushioning pad 314 for absorbing a part of theenergy created by the collision. This cushioned displacement of theshell body 102 and the arms 304 relative to the latch assemblies 106 canabsorb a part of the collision energy to reduce the risk of injury tothe child. It will be appreciated that the cushioning pad 314 may alsobe used in combination with the cushion structures in any of the supportbases described previously.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment of asupport base 400 for a child safety seat, FIG. 12 is a schematic viewillustrating a latch assembly 406 detached from the support base 400,and FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the support base 400 withthe latch assemblies 406 in a deployed state. Referring to FIGS. 11-13,the support base 400 can include a shell body 402 having a rear 402R anda front 402F, an elongated arm 404 extending transversally parallel to awidth of the shell body 402, and two latch assemblies 406 connected withthe left and right ends of the arm 404. The shell body 402 can be formedfrom the assembly of upper and lower housing parts 402A and 402B. Theupper housing part 402A can have an outer surface having a constructionadapted to detachably support a child safety seat (not shown). The lowerhousing part 402B can have left and right sides symmetrically providedwith openings 408 adjacent to the rear 402R of the base 402. Twoopposite end portions of the arm 404 can respectively extend through theopenings 408, and connect with the latch assemblies 406. The size of theopenings 408 may be larger than a cross-section of the two end portionsof the arm 404, so that a limited range of displacement of the arm 404in the openings 408 is permitted. Each latch assembly 406 can include anouter casing 406A that encloses various components of the latch assembly406.

In FIG. 11, the support base 400 is shown in a configuration in whichthe latch assemblies 406 are folded toward the shell body 402 forfacilitating storage of the support base 400. In FIG. 13, the supportbase 400 is shown in a configuration in which the latch assemblies 406are deployed rearward for fastening with the anchorage fixture of avehicle.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating an interior of the shell body402. The interior of the shell body 402 can be affixed with a tubularanchor 410 of a U-shape including a transversal segment 410A and twoside segments 410B. The arm 404 can include a transversal segment 412,and two transversally spaced-part extensions 414 projecting from anouter surface of the transversal segment 412. The transversal segment412 can include a tube portion 412A, and a rod 412B extendingtransversally through an interior of the tube portion 412A. Two oppositeends of the rod 412B can project outward from the left and right ends ofthe tube portion 412A, and connect with the latch assemblies 406. Therod 412B can rotate within the tube portion 412A to concurrently turnthe two latch assemblies 406 to either of a storage state and a deployedstate. The two extensions 414 can be fixedly joined with the tubeportion 412A symmetrically at left and right sides relative to a centerof the tube portion 412A, and can respectively affix with the sidesegments 410B of the tubular anchor 410.

FIG. 15 is an exploded view illustrating the assembly of the tubularanchor 410 with the arm 404, and FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectionalview illustrating the tubular anchor 410 assembled with the arm 404. Theside segments 410B of the tubular anchor 410 can have a cross-sectionthat is larger than the extensions 414 in size. The extensions 414 canrespectively insert at least partially through the side segments 410Bfor affixing the arm 404 with the tubular anchor 410.

Each cushion structure 420 can be respectively disposed in the jointregion between one side segment 410B of the tubular anchor 410 and oneextension 414 of the arm 404. The cushion structure 420 can include adistal portion 414A of the extension 414 having two holes 422 and 424,and an adjacent cushioning portion 426 including a slit 426A connectedbetween the two holes 422 and 424. The cushioning portion 426 can bemade of the same material of the extension 414 or arm 404. The slit 426Acan be narrower than the holes 422 and 424 in size. The holes 422 and424 and the slit 426A may be distributed along an axis of insertion ofthe extension 414 through the side segment 410B.

Once the extension 414 is put in place through the associated sidesegment 410B, a hole 418 formed through the side segment 410B can bealigned with the hole 422 of the extension 414. A fastener such as rivet428 then can be engaged through the hole 418 of the side segment 410Band the hole 422 of the extension 414 in contact with the cushioningportion 426 to fixedly fasten the tubular anchor 410 with the arm 404.The rivet 428 can be greater than the size of the slit 426A, so that therivet 428 cannot easily move through the slit 426A once it is engagedthrough the hole 422.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure 420 when the support base 400 is installed in avehicle. In case the vehicle is subject to a sudden colliding forceparallel to the lengthwise axis of the shell body 402 (e.g., when thecollision occurs at the front of the vehicle), the inertia of thesupport base 400 and the seat installed thereon may cause the shell body402 and the tubular anchor 410 to displace toward the front 402F of theshell body 402 away from the attachment points of the latch assemblies406 with the anchorage fixture of the vehicle. As a result, the rivet428 affixed with each side segment 410B can be urged to move relative tothe extension 414 of the arm 404 from the hole 422 to the hole 424through the cushioning portion 426. Because the size of the slit 426A issmaller than that of the rivet 428, some frictional resistance can begenerated against the displacement of the rivet 428 through the slit426A to dissipate the collision energy. This cushioned displacement ofthe shell body 402 and the tubular anchor 410 relative to the latchassemblies 406 can dissipate a part of the collision energy to reducethe risk of injury to the child.

In conjunction with FIGS. 11-14, FIG. 18 is a schematic viewillustrating an embodiment of a cushion structure 502 that can be usedin replacement of the cushion structure 420 in the support base 400, andFIG. 19 is a schematic view illustrating a cushion structure 502disposed adjacent to a joint region of the tubular anchor 410 with thearm 404. Each of the cushion structures 502 can be respectively disposedin the joint region between one side segment 410B of the tubular anchor410 and one extension 414 of the arm 404. The cushion structure 502 caninclude the distal portion 414A of the extension 414 having twospaced-apart holes 504 and 506 isolated from each other via a cushioningportion 502A. The cushioning portion 502A may be made of the samematerial of the extension 414 or arm 404. The holes 504 and 506 may bedistributed along an axis of insertion of the extension 414 through theside segment 410B.

Once the extension 414 is put in place through the associated sidesegment 410B, the hole 418 formed through the side segment 410B can bealigned with the hole 504 of the extension 414. A fastener such as rivet508 then can be engaged through the hole 418 of the side segment 410Band the hole 504 of the extension 414 to fixedly fasten the tubularanchor 410 with the arm 404.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure 502 when the support base 400 is installed in avehicle. In case the vehicle is subject to a sudden colliding forceparallel to the lengthwise axis of the shell body 402, the inertia ofthe support base 400 and the seat installed thereon can cause the shellbody 402 and the tubular anchor 410 to move toward the front 402A awayfrom the attachment points of the latch assemblies 406 with theanchorage fixture of the vehicle. As a result, the rivet 508 affixedwith each side segment 410B can be urged to break the cushioning portion502A of the extension 414 between the holes 504 and 506, and moverelative to the extension 414 from the hole 504 to the hole 506. Thebreak of the cushioning portion 502A between the holes 504 and 506 maycreate a trench 510 in the extension 414 to dissipate collision energy.This cushioned displacement of the shell body 402 and the tubular anchor410 relative to the latch assemblies 406 can dissipate a part of thecollision energy to reduce the risk of injury to the child.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view illustrating another cushion structure 602that can be used in replacement of the cushion structure 420 in thesupport base 400, and FIG. 22 is a schematic view illustrating a cushionstructure 602 disposed adjacent to a joint region of the tubular anchor410 with the arm 404 in the support base. Each of the cushion structures602 can be respectively disposed in the joint region between one sidesegment 410B of the tubular anchor 410 and one extension 414 of the arm404. The cushion structure 602 can include the distal portion 414A ofthe extension 414 having three spaced-apart holes 604, 606 and 608, anda slit 610. The holes 604, 606 and 608 and the slit 610 can bedistributed along an axis of insertion of the extension 414 through theside segment 410B, the hole 606 being located between the holes 604 and608. The slit 610 can be connected between the holes 606 and 608, andthe holes 604 and 606 can be isolated from each other via a solidsidewall of the extension 414. In alternate embodiments, the holes 604and 606 may also be connected with each other via a slit, or the holes606 and 608 may be isolated from each other via a solid sidewall. Likepreviously described, the solid material of the extension 414 betweenthe holes 604 and 606, and between the holes 606 and 608 can formcushioning portions.

Once the extension 414 is put in place through the associated sidesegment 410B, the hole 418 formed through the side segment 410B can bealigned with the hole 604 of the extension 414. A rivet 612 then can beengaged through the hole 418 of the side segment 410B and the hole 604of the extension 414 to fixedly fasten the tubular anchor 410 with thearm 404.

In conjunction with FIG. 11, FIG. 23 is a schematic view illustratingexemplary operation of the cushion structure 602 when the support baseis installed in a vehicle. In case the vehicle is subject to a suddencolliding force parallel to the lengthwise axis of the shell body 402(e.g., when the collision occurs at the front of the vehicle), theinertia of the support base and the seat installed thereon may cause theshell body 402 and the tubular anchor 410 to displace away from the arm404. As a result, the rivet 612 affixed with each side segment 410B canbe urged to break the solid material of the extension 414 between theholes 604 and 606 (which creates a trench 614), and move from the hole604 to the hole 606.

In case the collision is stronger, the rivet 612 may move further fromthe hole 606 via the slit 610 to the hole 608 after breaking thematerial of the extension 414 between the holes 604 and 606. Because thesize of the slit 610 is smaller than that of the rivet 612, somefrictional resistance can be generated against the displacement of therivet 612 through the slit 610 to dissipate collision energy. Thisgradual cushioned displacement of the shell body 402 and the tubularanchor 410 relative to the latch assemblies 406 can dissipate a part ofthe collision energy to reduce the risk of injury to the child.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view illustrating another cushion structure 702that can be used in the support base 400, and FIG. 25 is a partiallyenlarged view illustrating a cushion structure 702 provided in the shellbody 402 of the support base. In this embodiment, the extension 414 caninclude an elongated slot 704 having first and second ends 704A and704B. Once the extension 414 is put in place through the associated sidesegment 410B, a rivet 706 can be engaged through the side segment 410Band guided through the slot 704 of the extension 414 to movably connectthe tubular anchor 410 with the arm 404.

The cushion structure 702 can include a cushioning pad 705 that isdisposed in the base 402 at a position between the arm 404 and an innersidewall of the shell body 402. A plurality of ribs 708 can protrudefrom an inner sidewall of the shell body 402, and engage with aplurality of mount slots 710 formed through the cushioning pad 705 toaffix the cushioning pad 705 with the shell body 402.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the cushioning pad 705. The cushioningpad 705 can be made in a single piece made of cast aluminum. The mountslots 710 can be disposed on upper and lower edges of the cushioning pad705. The cushioning pad 705 can also include a plurality of elongatedopenings 712A and circular openings 712B. The elongated openings 712Acan be disposed adjacent to the mount slots 710 at the upper edge of thecushioning pad 705, and the circular openings 712B can be disposedadjacent to the mount slots 710 at the lower edge of the cushioning pad705.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view illustrating exemplary operation of thecushion structure 702 when the support base is installed in a vehicle.In case the vehicle is subject to a sudden colliding force parallel tothe lengthwise axis of the shell body 402 (e.g., when the collisionoccurs at the front of the vehicle), the inertia of the support base 400and the seat installed thereon may cause the shell body 402 and thetubular anchor 410 to displace away from the arm 404 and the latchassemblies 406 fixedly attached with the anchorage fixture of thevehicle. As a result, the rivet 706 affixed with each side segment 410Bcan be urged to move along the slot 704 from the first end 704A to thesecond end 704B. Moreover, the tube portion 412A of the transversalsegment 412 can press against the cushioning pad 705 and causes itsdeformation. It is worth noting that the slot 704 and rivet 706 may bereplaced with any of the cushion structures described previously inFIGS. 15 through 23 for use in combination with the cushioning pad 705.

While the cushion structures have been described as being implemented insupport bases, it will be appreciated that the cushion structures canalso be formed with the seat body so that the seat body can be directlyattached with the anchorage fixture of the vehicle. Alternatively, thesupport base and the seat portion may also formed in a unitary body.

The bases described herein can include cushion structures that can allowcushioned displacement of the shell body relative to the attachmentpoints of the latch assemblies with the anchorage fixture of thevehicle. As a result, the cushion structures can absorb a part of thecollision energy occurring during collision of the vehicle to reduce therisk of injury to the child.

Realizations of the support bases for child safety seats have beendescribed in the context of particular embodiments. These embodimentsare meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations,modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. These and othervariations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall withinthe scope of the inventions as defined in the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support base for a child safety seat,comprising: a shell body having an inner sidewall, and an interioraffixed with an anchor structure, the anchor structure including a sidesegment; an arm extending transversally relative to the shell body, thearm having a tube portion, and a rod arranged through the tube portion,the tube portion including an extension connected with the side segmentof the anchor structure; two latch assemblies respectively connectedwith a left and a right end of the rod, the latch assemblies beingoperable to fixedly attach the shell body with an anchorage fixture of avehicle, and the rod being rotatable relative to the tube portion toturn the two latch assemblies to either of a storage state and adeployed state; and a cushion structure arranged adjacent to a jointregion where the side segment and the extension of the tube portion areconnected with each other, or in the support base at a position betweenthe tube portion and the inner sidewall of the shell body, wherein thecushion structure is operable to cushion a displacement of the shellbody and the anchor structure relative to the arm and the latchassemblies when car collision occurs.
 2. The support base according toclaim 1, wherein the cushion structure includes a first and a secondhole formed through the extension, a cushioning portion formed from thematerial of the extension that is located between the first and secondholes, and a fastener respectively engaged through the side segment andthe first hole of the extension and in contact with the cushioningportion to fixedly fasten the anchor structure with the tube portion ofthe arm.
 3. The support base according to claim 2, wherein thecushioning portion includes a slit connecting with the first and secondholes.
 4. The support base according to claim 2, further including athird hole disposed between the first and second hole, and a slitconnecting with the second and third holes.
 5. The support baseaccording to claim 4, wherein the first, second and third holes aresubstantially aligned with one another.
 6. The support base according toclaim 3, wherein the slit is narrower than the first and second holes,and the first and second holes and the slit are distributed along anaxis of insertion of the extension through the side segment.
 7. Thesupport base according to claim 2, wherein the fastener breaks at leastpartially or causes deformation of the cushioning portion and movesrelatively toward the second hole to cushion a displacement of the shellbody and the anchor structure relative to the arm and the latchassemblies.
 8. The support base according to claim 1, wherein thecushioning structure includes a cushioning pad affixed with the shellbody between the tube portion of the arm and the inner sidewall of theshell body.
 9. The support base according to claim 8, wherein thecushioning pad is formed in a single piece made of cast aluminum. 10.The support base according to claim 8, wherein the extension isassembled through the side segment, the extension including an elongatedslot, and a rivet is respectively engaged through the side segment andguided through the elongated slot of the extension to movably connectthe anchor structure with the tube portion of the arm.
 11. The supportbase according to claim 8, wherein the cushioning pad is deformableunder pressure of the tube portion to cushion a displacement of theshell body and the anchor structure relative to the arm and the latchassemblies.
 12. The support base according to claim 1, wherein theanchor structure has a U-shape, and the arm is assembled with two distalends of the anchor structure.
 13. A child safety seat assemblycomprising: the support base according to claim 1; and a child safetyseat arranged on the support base.
 14. A support base for a child safetyseat, comprising: a shell body having an interior affixed with an anchorstructure, the anchor structure including a side segment; an armextending transversally relative to the shell body, the arm having atube portion, and a rod pivotally supported through the tube portion,the tube portion including an extension connected with the side segmentof the anchor structure; two latch assemblies respectively connectedwith a left and a right end of the rod, the latch assemblies beingoperable to fixedly attach the shell body with an anchorage fixture of avehicle, and the rod being rotatable with the two latch assembliesrelative to the tube portion; and a cushion structure interacting withthe arm to cushion a displacement of the shell body and the anchorstructure relative to the arm and the latch assemblies when carcollision occurs.
 15. The support base according to claim 14, whereinthe cushion structure is arranged adjacent to a joint region where theside segment and the extension of the tube portion are connected witheach other.
 16. The support base according to claim 15, wherein thecushion structure includes a first and a second hole formed through theextension, a cushioning portion formed from the material of theextension that is located between the first and second holes, and afastener respectively engaged through the side segment and the firsthole of the extension and in contact with the cushioning portion tofixedly fasten the anchor structure with the tube portion of the arm.17. The support base according to claim 16, wherein the fastener breaksat least partially or causes deformation of the cushioning portion andmoves relatively toward the second hole to cushion a displacement of theshell body and the anchor structure relative to the arm and the latchassemblies.
 18. The support base according to claim 14, wherein thecushion structure is arranged in the support base at a position betweenthe tube portion and an inner sidewall of the shell body.
 19. Thesupport base according to claim 18, wherein the cushioning structureincludes a cushioning pad affixed with the inner sidewall of the shellbody.
 20. The support base according to claim 19, wherein the cushioningpad is deformable under pressure of the tube portion to cushion adisplacement of the shell body and the anchor structure relative to thearm and the latch assemblies.